Chapter 58: 58

Chapter 58

It was already too late to step back. 

As soon as I turned around, I met Hugo’s eyes.

He seemed to have noticed what I was looking at. 

Our eyes just crossed and we didn’t say anything.

In the long silence, I realized.

‘….This is Hugo’s secret that Bryce had mentioned.’

Books on the resurrection and an experiment journal with Lily’s name on it.

In any case, Hugo’s purpose was clear.

Resurrecting Lily with black magic. 

I felt suffocated and nervous as if I had a lump in my lungs.

I didn’t try to say anything, but just swallowed my saliva.

What should Lily say at a time like this to the brother who tried to resurrect her?

It was during the moment I became nervous because I couldn’t find an answer.

“I just thought you were dead.”

Hugo broke the silence first. He collected the test journals one by one and put them back in place.

“That’s why I needed these books.”

The focus of his sapphire-colored eyes blurred as if recalling a distant past.

Hugo quickly cleared the floor and closed the cabinet.

“But Lily, now that you’re back, I don’t need to examine it anymore.”

“……”

“How did the lock become like this? It must have been difficult to break because it was a magic stone.”

Hugo pulled out a pair of tweezers and a metal bucket and picked up the pieces of the broken lock.

I decided to be honest.

“…It’s a note.”

“Note?”

“Bryce gave me a note earlier. Ah, I’ve never opened it. I put it on the desk so that I could show Brother when you came, and then suddenly, there was a light…”

I swallowed the words along the way. Hugo’s expression turned extremely harsh. 

After cleaning the floor, he took off his glasses and wiped them thoroughly.

His eyes were as cold as ice.

“I’ll take care of that guy. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

I didn’t know what and how he would take care of him, but I didn’t ask any more because I was afraid of finding out the unbearable truth.

I looked at him and lowered my head.

“…I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right after I got the note.”

I was worried that Hugo would find me suspicious.

I got a note from a man I saw for the first time, but I read it secretly without telling my brother.

I didn’t even know I got it because Bryce had it tucked away in my sleeve, but that sounded like an excuse to me.

“It’s not something Lily should be sorry about.”

Fortunately, Hugo shook his head and poured me some cold tea.

The bitter scent of medicinal tea relieved the tense atmosphere of the laboratory a little.

Hugo sat me in a chair and then he sat in the seat facing me.

“It’s all about that rotten-eyed bastard. I didn’t see him before because he ran away before I knew it, but he must be the one who stole the evil spirit from my lab and brought it to the stadium.”

It was the story I heard from Pedro. 

Bryce, who was full of energy like a ghost, seemed to still hold a grudge against Hugo.

“I was trying to get evidence and get him fired, really, I shouldn’t delay it. I didn’t believe he would extend his magic to you without me knowing. If he wasn’t a royal family member….”

There was nothing more to say, so I just sipped some tea.

It tasted bitter, but I didn’t feel it. It was because Hugo’s fierce anger was transmitted even though he was sitting still.

Hugo, who was clenching his teeth, sneakily peeked at me.

“…Don’t you feel bad?”

“What?”

“The things I’ve studied.”

Hugo’s creeping voice had a strange regret.

“Even if you feel bad, I understand. Please be honest with me.”

“…I don’t feel bad.”

I shook my head and came up with an answer that the angelic Lily would have given.

“It’s because Brother missed me that much.”

If someone I didn’t know tried to resurrect me from the dead, his obsession might have been terrifying.

But I am not Lily. So, Hugo’s actions were not perceived as a threat.

Hugo looked at me blankly, then nodded like a child.

“…Yes. Thank you for noticing…”

He put his hands together as if praying and added as if suppressing them.

“Lily was the first person to understand me.”

Hugo stayed still in that position for a while. He seemed to be contemplating my words.

After a while, he jerked his head up.

“I think I have to pay back my mistake. Please allow it.”

“Yes?”

“Anyway, I was sure that you died when you were alive. It is my fault.”

Hugo smiled as his face glowed. 

“I will do anything. Or is there something you would like to have?”

Hugo told me he would compensate me materially for every minor mistake.

It was as if he was afraid of receiving even the slightest hatred from me.

‘It’s really okay though.’

I felt thankful that he was being so sincere, but I didn’t expect anything from Hugo.

On the contrary, if I let it go, Hugo would be disappointed, so I had to squeeze my brain about what gifts I always wanted.

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‘What should I say this time?’

I had been thinking about it and finally figured out what I needed.

“Brother.”

“Yes?”

“It’s about Benny.”

“…That monster?”

Hugo was pissed off. 

When I shut my mouth, depressed by his response, he let go of his expression as if he had made a mistake earlier.

However, it was obvious that the corners of his mouth were forcibly raised.

“Okay, keep talking.”

“…It’s spring now, but the tower where Benny is in looks cold. Can I bring him warm clothes?”

Of course, clothes were just a reason to go see Benny.

I just wanted to make as many opportunities as possible to talk with Benny alone.

Hugo, who seemed willing to do anything, did not answer immediately, but squeezed his fingers and knocked on the table.

“Lily really worries about him a lot.”

“I can’t?”

“…No, it’s not. I want to do anything you want. It’s just a little strange.”

Hugo shrugged and met my eyes. 

“Why are you pouring your precious sympathy on such a guy?”

Hugo emphasized the word ‘sympathy.’ Then, he even asked a question like he was driving a wedge.

“Are you interested in that monster because you feel sorry for it, Lily?”

I licked my lips and nodded.

Because all of a sudden I had an ominous feeling. 

If the reason I care about Benny was anything other than sympathy, then Hugo might do something unexpected to him.

Hugo smiled as if he was very pleased with my answer.

“I can’t say I like that monster, those will be just empty words, but because Lily is kind… I get it.”

Hugo put on his glasses, stood up, and held out his hand as if asking me to follow him.

“Just in time, I had a hard time deciding what to do with a failed project. It was a troublesome thing.” 

***

“…It, it suits you.”

I looked the other way, praising Benny, who was in the chick-colored shawl filled with polka dots.

Every time he moved his body, a bright pink flower pattern was emphasized.

The compliment was not sincere. To be honest, I didn’t really like it. 

Benny had a serious impression for a boy, and even for his age, that shawl was so terribly childish.

By analogy, it was like a silver coyote covered in chick skin.

As the person concerned did not care much, Benny wrapped the shawl I gave him around his shoulders, untied it, and repeated those actions.

A blush flashed across his indifferent face. Fortunately, he seemed to like it.

“Thank you.”

Benny nodded his head towards me.

I shook my head and pointed to Hugo, who was standing next to me.

“Brother Hugo made it, not me.”

Before Benny could say anything else, Hugo fired coldly.

“You don’t have to thank me. Because it wasn’t made for monsters in the first place.”

Hugo squeezed my hand as if telling me to not approach Benny.

Then I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“Did Hugo make it? Lily, I remember none of your shawls were like that.”

Alan entered the basement of the Magic Tower.

I was a little surprised, but I didn’t think I needed to be cautious because I came with Hugo.

The knights guarding the tower just let us in.

“It is a failure. I was going to throw it away anyway, so I gave it to you.”

Hugo firmly said, as if he wanted Benny to know properly.

“When I thought about making it for Lily, I didn’t like the finished product no matter what it was.”

That was why the wool clothes Hugo made were all for children.

Alan nodded and came to me. 

I was three or four steps away from the bars, and he seemed dissatisfied with that, so he grabbed my body and pulled me back.

‘Why did Alan suddenly come here?’

Just when I had doubts, Alan looked down at Benny and stated his business with him without saying anything unnecessary.

“I’m going to reveal your evil spirit power tomorrow.”

I was dumbfounded.

I knew that he was going to reveal the powers of evil spirits, but didn’t he ask Benny for permission in advance? 

If it was like this, it was completely a one-sided notification.

“Most of the duchy’s carnival events were suspended due to the breaking of the barrier, but the masquerade ball held in my castle will proceed as scheduled. Tomorrow night, I will reveal your powers myself.”

Alan didn’t even hide his intentions that he would proceed as planned whether Benny agreed or not.

‘I have nothing to say about this even if Benny disappears because of the ridiculousness.’

I belatedly asked Benny a question that no one must have asked.

“Benny, what do you think?”

Benny was silent for a moment with his lips buried in the shawl, and then he stared at me.

“Do you want me to do that, Princess?”

Benny seemed more interested in my opinion even on the important issue of revealing his evil spirit power to the world tomorrow.

I nodded cautiously as I picked my words.

“…Yes. If you drag on, there might be a bigger problem.”

As soon as Benny heard what I said, he answered gently.

“If the Princess likes it, I like it too.”

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